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Date: 02-17-2018
Case Style:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Ray A. Shetler, Jr.
Westmoreland County Courthouse - Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Case Number: CP-65-CR-0005692-2015
Judge: Meagan Bilik-DeFazie
Court: Court of Common Pleas, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Plaintiff's Attorney: Denise Lynn Snyder Thiel
Defendant's Attorney: Marc David Daffner
Description: Greensburg, PA - Jury Finds Defendant Accused of Murder Not Guilty
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged Ray Shetler, Jr. with first-degree murder and third-degree murder for killing a polic officer who responded to a domestic violence call in Westmoreland County in 2015.
Shetler's girlfriend domestic violence 911 call.
Officer Lloyd Reed responded to the call and ordered Shetler to drop a rife and the office opened fire when Shetler did not comply. Shetler responded and shot and killed Reed.
Shetler took the stand and testified that he did not know that Reed, age 54, was a police officer and acted in self defense.
Title 18 § 2502. Murder.
(a) Murder of the first degree.--A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing.
(b) Murder of the second degree.--A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the second degree when it is committed while defendant was engaged as a principal or an accomplice in the perpetration of a felony.
(c) Murder of the third degree.--All other kinds of murder shall be murder of the third degree. Murder of the third degree is a felony of the first degree.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Fireman." Includes any employee or member of a municipal fire department or volunteer fire company.
"Hijacking." Any unlawful or unauthorized seizure or exercise of control, by force or violence or threat of force or violence.
"Intentional killing." Killing by means of poison, or by lying in wait, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing.
"Perpetration of a felony." The act of the defendant in engaging in or being an accomplice in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing, or attempting to commit robbery, rape, or deviate sexual intercourse by force or threat of force, arson, burglary or kidnapping.
"Principal." A person who is the actor or perpetrator of the crime.
Outcome: Not Guilty
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: